Separable fastener stringer



5 1.. H. MORIN 2,492,309

SEPARABLE FASTENER STRINGER Filed May 26, 1944 INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Patented Jan. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEPABABLE FASTENER STRINGER Louis B. Morin, Bronx, N. Y.

Application May 26, 1944, Serial No. 537,471

8 Claims. (Cl. 24-20513) This invention relates to separable fastener stringers of the type and kind employing links or scoops arranged along the edge of mounting tapes and coupled and uncoupled in the attachment and detachment of the stringers. More particularly, the invention deals with the construction of links or scoops to provide thereof link or scoop devices which are arranged at angles of inclination to the longitudinal plane of the mounting tapes, rather than the conventional right angle mounting thereon, so as to dispose one coupling side portion of a scoop in longitudinal spaced relation on the stringer tape to the other coupling side thereof, particularly with respect to side surfaces of the scoops, thereby providing between coupled scoops means preventing transverse separation of the stringers, whereas coupling portions of the scoops include male and female portions otherwise retaining coupled scoops against pull apart separation. Still further the invention deals with scoop structures of the kind under consideration of the double action type facilitating movement of sliders universally on the stringers. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing descriptions when taken together'with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views; and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side and sectional view of a part of two stringers showing the scoops in coupled relationship to each other.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the scoops detached; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail face views showing different end stops which are employed.

In Fig. 1 f the drawing l0 and II show portionsv of two stringer tapes, the beaded edges of which are indicated at 12 and I3, and on these beaded edges are arranged at spaced intervals scoops I4. As each scoop is of the same construction, the brief description of one will apply to all.

Considering Fig. 3, in which one of the scoops is shown detached and in perspective, it will appear that the scoop comprises a mounting end portion I having therein the aperture ii for receiving the bead l2 or l3 of the stringer tape. At I1 is shown the coupling end portion which comprises upper and lower projections l8 and I9 forming the male coupling portions of the scoop. inwardly of which are corresponding recesses 20 and 2| forming the female coupling portions and adapted to receive the projections l9 and I8 of scoops of a companion stringer. The projections l8 and I9 are in transverse alinement with each other.

Upper and lower surfaces of the coupling end portions ll have extending longitudinally thereof center lineal ridges 22 and 23, which are formed by contracting upper and lower surfaces 24 and 25, at opposite coupling side portions or halves 26 and 21 of the scoops. The upper and lower surfaces 24, 25 of the coupling side portions are parallel to each other and to the longitudinal plane of the stringer tape, as will appear in Fig. 2 of the drawing, whereas the outer side surfaces 26' and 21' are arranged at spaced intervals longitudinally of the tape and as viewed in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The coupling side portion 26, and particularly the outer surface 26' thereof is arranged above the outer surface 21' of the coupling side portion 21. This may be described as a biased mounting and arrangement of coupling portion of scoops upon and outwardly of the tape edges, as well as upon opposite side portions of the tape edges, or as previously stated, an inclined relationship which produces between adjacent coupling scoops an interlock preventing transverse. separation of the scoops, thus dispensing with the need of providingother male and female coupling portions as are commonly employed in scoops which are arranged'at right angles to the tape edge or with side portions of the scoops perpendicular to side surfaces of the stringer tape.

Scoops of the kind under consideration may be produced in any desired manner, but in forming them as die castings directly upon the tape edge, this formation dispenses with the use of core members, thus scoops of this kind are properly classified as coreless scoops. It will further be apparent that scoops constructed in this manner will have the greatest possible strength, by reason of the fact that the wall structure of the scoop is not weakened by forming the conventional sockets or female portions for the couplings which have been dispensed with in this scoop structure.

The tapering or converging of the walls 24 and 25 to outer sides of the scoops in forming the coupling side portions 26 and 21 and also in forming the ridges 23 and 22, produce between adjacent coupled scoops at the side portions 26 and 21 thereof clearance spaces 28 which will provide for fiexure or bending of the tapes within predetermined limits. In connection with the latter.

. it will be apparent that the ridge portions 22 and 23 of adjacent coupled scoops form pivots upon which adjacent scoops can rock in bending or folding the tape in the direction of either Side surface thereof.

It will be apparent that the scoops may be arranged at an angle of inclination directly opposite to that illustrated in Fig. 2, and still accomplish the same results. It is immaterial whichinclination is used, but in all cases, the inclination will be the same in the scoops of both stringers.

Considering Fig. 3 of the drawing, it will be understood that the projecting members I 8 and it are formed by the oppositely bevelled walls which form the outer contracted ends on the scoops and also the lowpoint of the recess socket portions and 2|, and corresponding upper and lower tapered walls 29 and in form the remainder of the recesses or sockets 2n and 2| and diverge to the mounting end portion i5, upper and lower surfaces of which are substantially in alinement with the highpoints of the projections l8 and I 9.

Upper and lower surfaces of the mounting end portions ii are also tapered or converge to side edges of the scoops corresponding to the highpoints of the projections l8 and I9. In other words, a longitudinal section through the central portion of each scoop will show a greater wall thickness throughout than at side surfaces of the scoop, in that all of the walls converge from central portions to side surfaces of the scoop.

For the purpose of this description, the scoops may be characterized as scoops having an oblique mounting on the tape edge, or in other words, an oblique arrangement of scoops on a stringer, thus 'disposing opposed side surfaces of the scoops in spaced relationship along the stringers as heretofore defined. In this oblique mounting, each coupling side portion of the scoop maintains substantially a common angle of inclination, particularly with respect to the transverse center of the scoops or the center line intermediate the opposed bevelled or contracted surfaces 24 and 25.

It will also be apparent that in viewing the scoops from both side surfaces of the stringers, all of the upper surfaces of the scoops will be directed to one side of the stringer, and all of the lower surfaces to the other side thereof. When the scoops of companion stringers are coupled together, the upper surface of the scoops on one stringer will be adjacent and overlap the lower surfaces of the scoops of the other stringerr This provides the means for retaining the coupled scoops against transverse separation and dispenses with the use of other male and female couplings which have heretofore been employed.

With stringers employing coupling scoops of the type and kind under consideration, it is essential to provide at one end of the stringers couplings on said stringers to prevent separation and longitudinal movement thereof. This is sometimes done by simply stitching or otherwise fastening the stringer ends directly to the supports, as commonly known in this art, or by employing couplings of the general type and kind illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

In Fig. 4, two stringer tapes are shown at 3| and 32, having scoops 33 thereon similar to the scoops i4, and to the beaded edge of the stringer 3| is secured a box coupling part 34, the pin portion 35 of which has on its inner surface a recess 36 to receive a projection 31 on the pin member 38 adapted to be coupled with the box part 34, the pin member 38 being secured to the beaded edge of the stringer 32. The pin and box construction provides detachable coupling of the ends of the stringers adapting the fastener to such uses as Jackets or other garments where the stringers are completely separated. The interengagement between the projection 31 and recess it retains the stringers against relative longitudinal movement.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing I have shown at II and 40 another pair of stringers having scoops 4|, again similar to the scoops i 4, and with this construction, the stringer ends are permanently secured together by the coupling 42, having chennelled end portions 43 and 44 enveloping the beaded edges 45 and 46 of the stringers 3! and 44. The coupling 42 also retains the stringers positively against separation as well as movement longitudinally one with respect to the other.

It will be understood that the illustrations in Figs. 4 and 5 are not to be considered as limited means to be employed for coupling the stringers together, but rather as illustrative of types and kinds of couplings which can be employed. Quite often, these couplings are provided at one end only of the stringer, but on the other hand, there are installations and uses wherein detachable couplings and positive couplings are provided at both ends of the stringer.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In stringers of the class described, a scoop structure having a mounting end portion and a coupling end portion, the coupling end portion being divided longitudinally into coupling sides by a lineal ridge on upper and lower surfaces of said coupling end portion, the mounting end portion of the scoop havin a passage for the reception of the stringer tape, the outer side surface of one coupling side being offset with respect to the outer side surface of the other coupling side in a direction extending longitudinally with respect to the bore of said passage, and said outer surfaces being parallel to each other and to the axis of said passage.

2. In stringers for separable fasteners, each stringer comprising a mounting tape, a plurality of scoops spaced longitudinally of one edge of said tape, said scoops being obliquely arranged through their length with respect to the tape edge and each having a pair of oppositely arranged, longitudinally extending, outer side surfaces which are offset with respect to each other throughout the length of the scoop, the oblique arrangement. of coupled scoops of two stringers retaining the stringers against transverse separation.

3. In stringers for separable fasteners, each stringer comprising a mounting tape, a plurality of scoops spaced longitudinally of one edge of said tape, said scoops bein obliquely arranged throughout their entire length with respect to the tape edge and each having a pair of oppositely arranged, longitudinally extending, outer side surfaces which are offset with respect to each other throughout the length of the scoop, the oblique arrangement of coupled scoops of two stringers serving to retain the stringers against transverse separation, means on said scoops for retaining coupled scoops against pull apart separation, said last named means comprising projecting members on upper and lower surfaces of each scoop, and corresponding recesses adjacent said pro-. jecting members adapted to receive the projecting members of the scoops of an opposed stringer.

4. A scoop for separable fastener stringers, said scoop having a lineal ridge extending centrally and longitudinally of the upper and lower surfaces, said upper and lower surfaces converging from said ridge to opposite sides of the scoop, upper and lower surfaces of the scoop having transverse recesses forming female coupling portions, said surfaces outwardly of the recesses having transversely arranged projecting members forming the male coupling portions of said scoops, one end portion of the scoop having a tape receiving channel, said upper and lower surfaces being arranged obliquely to the plane of said stringers and to the axis of said channel, and said scoop being substantially perpendicular to said axis throughout the length of the scoop.

5. A separable fastener stringer comprising scoops spaced longitudinally of the beaded edge of a, stringer, the scoops having coupling portions arranged outwardly of the beaded edge, said coupling portions having upper and lower surfaces with male and female couplings thereon for retaining coupled scoops of opposed stringers against pull apart separation, the entire upper surface of all of the scoops on one stringer being directed to one side surface only of the stringer, the entire lower surface of all of said scoops being directed to the other side surface only of said stringer by arrangement of the scoops at an angle other than ninety degrees to the longitudinal plane of the tape.

6. In stringers for separable fasteners, each stringer comprising a mounting tape, means coupling one end portion of the stringer tapes to retain said tapes against longitudinal movement one upon the other, a plurality of scoops spaced longitudinally of each stringer tape, end scoops being arranged adjacent said coupling means, the improvement which comprises each scoop having its entire upper and lower surfaces obliquely arranged with respect to the tape edge and each having a pair of oppositely arranged, longitudinally extending outer side surfaces which are offset with respect to each other throughout the length of the scoop, the oblique arrangement of coupled scoops of both stringers retaining the stringers against transverse separation, and means on said scoops for retaining coupled scoops against pull apart separation.

7. In stringers of the class described, a scoop structure having a mounting end portion and a coupling end portion, the scoop being divided longitudinally into side portions by a central lineal ridge extending longitudinally of both the upper and lower surfaces of the scoop, the coupling end portion having transversely alined projections on said upper and lower surfaces inwardly of which are correspondingl alined recesses, the mounting end portion of the scoop having a passage for the reception of the stringer tape, and the outer side surface of one side portion being offset throughout the entire length of the scoop with respect to the outer side surface of the other side portion in a direction extending longitudinally with respect to the bore of said passage.

8. A separable fastener stringer comprising scoops spaced longitudinally of one edge of the tape of the stringer, each scoop having on its upper and lower surfaces a central longitudinal lineal ridge dividing said scoop into a pair of side portions, the outer side surface of one side portion of the scoop being offset throughout the length of the scoop with respect to the outer side surface of the other side portion.

LOUIS H. MORIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,906,808 Poux May 2, 1933 1,937,297 Sundback Nov. 28, 1933 2,157,828 Kuna May 9, 1939 2,330,001 Morin Sept. 21, 1943 2,331,618 Morin Oct. 12,1943 

